Cable support



Aov. 20,1928. K 1,692,104

H. B. P. WRENN l CABLE SUPPORT Fi1ed1wv-28,11.924 .s sheets-sheet 2 E w.M 5' l gf@ @Eta Q l fn rc2/fiar Nov; 2o, 1928.

H. B. P. WRENN CABLE SUPPORT Filed Nov. 28, 1924 3 Sheets-Sheet 5Imam/0f' d ,Mm

Patented Nov. 20, 1928.

UITED STATES PATENT *ol-"Fics,v

HENRY B. P. WRENN, OF CLEVELAND., OHIO; O. P. MOON, ADMINISTRATOR OFHENRY B. P. WRENN, DECEASED, ASSIGNOR TO ARTHUR M. HAHN, OF AURORAHILLS,

VIRGINIA.

CABLE SUPPORT.

Application filed November 28, 1924. Serial No. 752,608.

rlhis invention relates to overhead suspension systems wherein one ormore contact wires are supported from a catenary structure and thepresent invention is directed more particularly to a novel and improvedform of lacing for connecting suc-h cont-act wires to the catenarystructure.

Heretofore, when using` a lacing to support the contact wire from thecatenary structure, it has been'the custom to employ a co-ntinuouslacing cable arranged in zigzag form between the cont-act wire andstructure, such cable being clamped at definite intervals alternately tothe contact wire and structure. .ln view of the fact that the lacing isa concontinuous cable (in order to increase the conductivity of thesystem and reduce joints to a minimum) it necessitates a large crew ofmen to erect the system and fasten the wires in place and then adjustthe wires and cables so that the contact wire will be in substantiallyparallel relation to the track beneath. In addition, a continuous cableis difficult to handle so as to prevent twisting and introducingundersirable stresses and strains in the system.

It is the primary object of the present invention to provide an improvedtype of lacing which shall be in sectional form so as to be easilyhandled and which shall greatly expedite the erection of an overheadsystem and require a minimum number of men for such erection.

Another object is to provide a lacing of this character which shallmaterially reduce the number of clamp joints ordinarily present in thelaced type of suspension, and hence greatly increase the conductivity ofthe system as a whole.

A further object is to provide an improved type of lacing' which shallprovide a positive and yielding form of connection between the contactwires and the catenary system so that all hard spots are eliminated andarcing and sparking is reduced to a minimum.

A still further object is to provide a lacing ofthe aforesaid characterwhich shall be simple in construction, inexpensive to manufacture andwhich may be easily and quickly installed. i

With these and other objects in view the invention consists in thevarious novel features of construction and arrangement or combination,all of which will be fully described hereinafter and pointed out in theappended claims. In the drawings accompanying and forming a part of thisapplication Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a portion o-f an overheadsus-- pension system showing my improved lacing supporting two contactwires, Fig. 2 is a similar View but showing the lacing supporting asingle contact wire; Fig. 3 is anv enlarged detail elevation of onesection of the lacing showing the same in position; Fig. 4 is anelevation of a lacing sect-ion detached from the system; Figs. 5 and 6are views similar to Figs. 3 and 4 respectively, but showing a modifiedsection of lacing; Figs. 7 and 8 are respectively side and endelevations of the clamp unit which is used at the ends of the lacingsections; Figs. 9 and 10 are similar views but showing a form of clampas used at the central portion of the lacing shown in Figs. 3 and 4; andFigs. 11 and 12 are side and end elevations respectivelyvof the clampwhich connects the lacing with the contact wire. j j

Describing the various parts by reference characters and referring toFigs. 1 and 2,v 1 denotes a suspension cable supported in any. suitablemanner as by means of the poles 2. Depending from this cable areaplurality of hangers 3 which are connected at their lower ends to afeeder cable 4. Th-e feeder cable in turn supports a plurality ofcontact wires 5, as shown in Fig. 1, yor a single contact wire 5a, asshown in Fig. 2, by means of my improved lacing denoted gene-rally at 6.

Referring particularly to Fig. 1, it will be noted that the contactwires 5 are arranged in a series of freely suspended overlapping loopssimilar to the arrangement disclosed in the reissue patent of myself andAloysius S. ODonoghue No. 15,876, dated July 22, 1924. In the presentinstance, however, the lacing 6 is used to support the contact wireor-wires instead of clamping said wires directly to the feeder cable 4,and a slightly different spacing arrangement between the hangers andpoints of connection of the lacing to the feeder cable isemployed sucharrangement being more fully described hereinafter.

One section of lacing is shown in Figs. 3 and 4 and comprises a lengthof flexible conductor 7 to each end ot which is attached one halt ot aclamping device whi'f in detail in 7 and 8. Each ha1 clamping device isidentical in construction and consists of an arcuate portion 9 which isadapted to closely en'ibrace the feeder cable 4, an upwardlyextendinglug l0 having an aperture therethrough to receive a bolt lL anda downwardly extending vllatteneo portion l2, which is provided with anintegral cable terminal or socket 13. lt will be note( that the flug l0is ot less width than lthc arcuate portion 9 so that the metal betweenone end ol said lug and the end oit the body yportion may be dei'lcctedover to torni a hook 14 while atthe opposite end. the metal may beremoved to permit the hook ot the cooperating cla-mp member to seattherein. it will also be noted that the socket or ninal 13 of eachmember is substantially one halt the width ot the clamp element and islocated to one side thereof so that the socket or terminal-ot' thecooperating clamp clcn'iflie in alignment therewith when the ingelements are Jfaiatened tol 1 r. 15 entends through the flattened po oteach element and each oli bolts ll and l5 is titted with a lock washer land a nut 'l'.f' so that the clamping elements may be drawn snugly aboutthe cable 4.

At substantially the mid point of the ilexible conductor 7, there isplaced an element A2() of a clamp device shown in detail in Figs.

9 and l0. This element-is formed with an arcuate portion 21 which isadapted to embra-ce cable 4, an upstanding lug 22, and adownwardlyprojecting llattened portion 23 which terminates in a cableterminal or socket 24. The upstanding lug QQ-is preferably of lesswidthfthan arcuate portion 2l so that suitable hooks 25 may be formed,one on each end of the arcuate portion,'so that the element may be hungon the cable 4 during the erection of the system as will beexplainedhereinafter.A y Cooperating with element 9.0 is a clampingelement 27 having an arcuate portion Q8, an upstanding lug 9.9 and adown- -wardly extending flattened portion 30. Elements 2O and 27 areclamped to cable 4 by meansoi bolts 8l and nuts 32, suitable lockwashers 33 serving to maintain the parts in locked position.-

Interposed between each of clamp elements 8 and 2O is a contact wireclamp indicated generally at 35 which is shown in detail in Figs. llandr l2. One element of this clamp comprises a'socketor terminalportieri 37 and a. downwardly extending'ilattened portion 38 whichterminates in an inwardly directed lug 39. Referring to Fig. l2, it willbe noted that the flattened portion' 38r is located to one side ofterminal 3( so as to define a recess into which is adapted to fit thecooperating clamp element 40. This element is formed with a llattenedportion 41 and an inwardly directed Legame lug 42. The elements areclamped together by a bolt'43 having a lock washer 44 and nut 45 appliedthereto which serve to draw the lugs 39 and 42 into light engagementwith the con-tact wire 5.

ln making upa section of lacing as above described, the 'flexibleconductor? is inserted. through` the socket or terminal portions of eachot the clamp elements and these elements are spaced thereon aspreviously described.. The cable and terminal portions are then unitedin any suitable manner but preferably by what is termed a drop 'forgedconnection, that is, the cable and termina-l portions are subjected toa` welding heat under pressure so 'that the metal oit the conductorandterminal flow to 'form a homogeneous joint. This type of connectionprovides maximum conductivity and prevents corrosion which would.introduce resistance into the system.

ln erecting a system with my improved lacing it is only necessary forthe lineman tol measure oil ldelinite distances along the feeder cable 4where the clamp elements 8 and 20 are to be located. A cable section isthen hung in position,l the hooks 14 of elements 8 and hooks 25 orelement 2Ov facilitating the location of the section at the proper placeon the feeder cable. rlhe cooperating clamp members are then applied tothe respective elements and locked in position. lt the erection of thesystem is` proceedingin a direction of left to right as viewed in Figs.l

r 2, the clamp element Son the right hand end ot the section ot lacingis locked in pos-ition by positioning asecond section' ot lacing on the'feeder cable so that the clamp element -on the left hand end Ot'saidsecond section loops between the hangers 3, and the points where thefeeder cable is attached toI the hangers are slightly higher than anyother points along the feeder cable. that the contact wire or wires mayhang in a series of 'freely suspended loops which are tangent to a linevparallel with the tracir, il preferably arrange the spacing ot' hangers3v and the spacing ot clamp sections 8, 2O and 8 on the lacing in suchmanner that the distance between adjacent points ot connection of thelacing clamps will each be substantially one hall:l of the distancebetween adjacent hangers, and the distance be tween adjacent points ofconnection of the lacing clamps 35 with` the contact wire or wires willbe substantially one half the distance between adjacent hangers, or insuchj In order then connected so that a contact Wire clamp 35 will. belocated beneath each hanger and a clamp 8 or 2() will belocated Wit-hrespect to i its nearest hanger 3, a distance equal substantially to onefourth ot the total distance between adjacentl hangers. lWith thisarrangement the contact Wire clamps will all be tangent to a line whichis parallel to the track beneath the system, and all hard spots areeliminated so that a pantograph Will pass smoothly along the contactWire or Wires Without arcing or sparking. The lacing sections in thisinstance may be made up in one size with respect to length and spacingot clamp elements thereon and the lineman need only determine the pointsot attachment of the clamps along the feeder cable ll, hence the systemmay be easily and quickly erected and readjustment ol the lacing orclamps is unnecessary as in the case ot a continuous lacing.

ln Figs. 5 and (l l have shown a modihed term ot lacing section. Thissection comprises a length 50 ot i'lexible conductor somewhat shorterthan that described in connection With Figs. 3 and il. To each endetconductor 50 l attach a clamp element 8 before,

and at substantially the mid point otl said conf ductor l attach aContact Wire clamp element 35. These lacing sections are preferably madein two standard sizes, each identical with the other, except that one isslightly longer than the other. This longer section used tor thosesections whose contact Wire clamp is located directly beneath the pointof attachment ot a hanger to the feed cable 4l. This arrangement isnecessary due to the fact that the points Wl ere hangers 3 connect tocable 1l, are higher than any other point ot the feeder cable, and theslight increase in length of the atorementioned cable sections permitsthe respective contact Wire clamps direct-ly beneath the hangers to dropto point in alignment with the other contact vvire clamps, and therebvvcause all ot said contact Wire clamps to lie tangent to a line which isparallel with the traclr beneath the system. These lacing' sections areinstalled in the `same manner as previously described.

lfrttention is called to the tact that although sectional type ot lacingis used, the number ot clamp joints is considerably less than when acontinuous lacing is used. ln the form ot lacing shown in Figs. 3 and 4fthere are live clamp joints in the section. A corresponding section orportion of continuous lacing emn ploys in some instances as high as tenclamp joints as it is necessary to clamp the lacing conductor as Well asthe feeder cable and contact Wire. ln the form of lacing shown in Figs.5 and 6 there are only three clamp joints While a correspondingsectionror portion ot a continuous lacing. employs in some instances ashigh as six clamp joints. It is thus evident that l have4 reduced 'thenumber ot clamp joints substantially 50% in the system and hence theconductivity of the system as a Whole is materially increased. The useot my sectional type ot lacing greatly eX- pedites the erection ot thesystem as the lacing sections are easily handled and may be accuratelyclamped in position.

lt will be understood that the terms cable and Wire areused in thespecification and claims to include any conductor, either solid orstranded or Aboth solid and stranded and such terms are used merely; todifferentiate one conductor from other conductors in the system. f

Having thus described my invention, What I claim is :d l. rllhecombination With an overhead catenary system, ot a contact Wire adaptedto be supported from said system, 'and a continuous lacing'connectingsaid Wire to said system, said lacing being composed ot a plurality ofsections. Y

2. The combination with an overhead catenary system, of a Contact Wireadapted to be supported trom said system, a continuous Jtlc-.triblelacing connecting said Wire to said system, said lacing being composedot a plurality ot' sections detachably connected together, and means torconnecting each ot said ections to said system and said contact Wire.

rlhe combination with an overhead catenary` system, ot a contact Wireadapted tobe supported from said system, a flexible lacing connectingsaid Wire to said system, said lacing being composed ot a plurality otsections, and means integrally connected with each oit' said sectionsYlor connecting said conn tact- Wire to said system and for connectingsaid sections together.

il. The combination With an overhead cateivstem, ot' a contactWireadapted to be su ,ported from said system, a continuous tlexiblelacing connecting said Wire to said system, said lacing beingcomposed ofa pluility ot sections detachably connected tot n.r, an d each sectionhaving a plurality ot cla.A 'ip elements permanently connected thereto.

The combination With an overhead catenary system, ot a Contact Wireadapted to be supported trom said system, a flexible lacing connectingsaid Wire to said system, said lacing being composed ot a plurality ofsections, and each section having a plurality ot clamp elementsconnected thereto, the clamp elements ot one section being adapted tocooperate With the clamp element o't an adjacent section to torm asubstantially continuous lacing.

6. rlChe combination with an overhead catenary system coinprising acable hung to deline a plurality of catenary loops, of a Contact Wireadapted rto be supported from said cable, f

a lexible lacing connecting said Wire to said nary system comprising acable having to define a plurality of catenary loops, of a pluralityv ofContact wires supported from said cable and arranged to define a seriesof freely suspended overlapping loops, a lacing connecting said contactwires to said cable, said lacing being composed of a plurality ofsections, and each of said sections having, a plurality of clampelements integrally connected thereto, said clamp elements being adaptedto be'connected alternately tosaid cable and said contact wires.

8. The combination with an overhead catenary system comprising asuspension cable, a plurality of hangers depending from said cable, afeeder cable supported by said hang ers and defining aplurality ofCatenary loops,-

a contact wire, andl a continuous lacing supporting. said contact wirefrom said feeder cable, said lacing being composed of a plurality ofsections of predetermined lengths, the length of each of said sectionsbearing a definite relation to the distance between said hangers therebyto cause said contact wire to lie parallel to the track beneath thesystem. 9. The combination with an overhead catenary system comprising asuspension cable, a' plurality of hangers depending from said cable, afeeder cable supported by said hangers and defining a plurality ofcatenary loops, a contact wire, a continuous lacing supporting saidcontact wire, said lacing being composed of'a plurality of sections ofpredetermined lengtl'is, said hangers being spaced apart atpredetermined lengths, and said lacing sections being connected to saidfeeder cable a distance from an adjacent hanger equal to substantiallyone half the distance between the feeder cable clamps of the lacingsection.y

l0. A lacing sec-tion of the character set forth compris-ing a length offlexible conductor, and a plurality of clamp elements per" manentlyconnected to said conductor, certain of said clamp elements havingportions adapted to cooperate with the clamp elements of adjacentsections to define a unit clamp.

ll. A lacing section of the character set forth comprising a length offlexiblev conduc-l tor, and a plurality of clamp elements drop forged onsaidv conductor at predetermined distances apart, to provide ahomogeneous and permanent electrical connection between` said conductorand clamp elements.

l2. A lacing. section of the character set. forthY coniprising a lengthof flexible conclue-- tor, and a plurality of clamp elementsintegrallyconnected to said conductor, certain of saidV elements beingadapted toV engage acatenary cable, other of said elementsbeing adaptedto engage a contact wire,.said cable engaging elements and wireengaging. elementsl being arranged in alternated ite-lation and atpredetermined distances along said. conductor, and the clampl elementsadjacent. each end of` said section having'portiens adapted to cooperatewith similar elements on adjacent sections to define a continuous.lacing.

l A lacing section oi the character set forth comprising a length offlexible conduce tor, a cable engaging clamp element inte-A grallyconnected to each end of said conductor, said clamp elements beingadapted' tococperate with 'an adjacent section to define a unit clamp,and a contact wire engaging clamp element integrally connected toy said.conductorintermediate the first mentioned clamp elements.

ll. A lacing section of the character set forth comprising a length offlexible conduc tor, a cable engaging clamp element integrally connectedto each end of' said conductor to provide a permanent and homogeneouselectrical connection therewith, a hook formed on each of said elements,and a Contact wire engaging element integrally connected to saidconductor to provide a permanent and homogeneous electrical connectiontherewith.

l5. A lacing section of the character set forth comprising apredeterminedy length of. flexible conductor, aA cable engaging clampelement integrally connected. to each end of said conductor, athirdcable engaging clamp element integrally connected to said.conductor substantially midway between the end` clampv elements, and aContact wire clamp element integrally connected to said conductorsubstantially midway between each end clamp element and said third:cable clamp element.

ln testimony whereof, l hereunto aflixmy signature.

HENRY B. P. WRENN.

